Archive for August, 2010

Matthew Farrer, author of the Shira Calpurnia omnibus The Enforcer, has posted an incredibly layered review of my story “Hive of Glass”, which appears in Gillian Polack’s “Baggage” anthology (Eneit Press).

One of the many things I love about being a writer is that moment when a reader ‘gets’ your story. A lot of people write just for themselves, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all. I’m one of those writers who do it for the audience as well. I want people to read my stories.

“Baggage” is launching at 1pm on Thursday, September 2, at Borders South Wharf, 20 Convention Center Place in Melbourne. If you’d like to come, let me know and I’ll add your name to the guest list. I’m told there will be classic Australian afternoon tea served!

A wise dictum. But what if you’re writing horror, or just the grim reality of history or crime? Research was never more risky than for these intrepid explorers!

Jack Dann, Chris Lawson, Kim Stanley Robinson, Kaaron Warren

Room P1

Friday 3pm

Reading

From Haunted Legends

Ellen Datlow, Stephen Dedman, Kaaron Warren

Room 213

Friday 4pm

Launch

Macabre anthology, Brimstone Press

Room 203

Friday 5pm

Reading

From Dead Sea Fruit

Room 215

Friday 7pm

Ditmar Awards

Shortlisted Best Novel and Best Short Story

Room 204

Saturday 10am

Signing

Room 201

Saturday 11am
LaunchScenes from the Second Storey, Morrigan BooksRoom 203

Saturday 4pm

Panel

Finding the right voice: Accents and speech patterns

When representing different accents and ways of speaking in fiction, some authors choose to add the occasional slang term or flourish while others go to the lengths of writing entire novels in a vernacular accent. How much is too much? Is it worth sacrificing readability for authenticity? Tips, strategies and techniques for accurately representing speech in fiction.

Writers of historical (or historically inspired) fiction often pay close attention to accuracy, ensuring the technology and fashion surrounding their stories never fall prey to anachronism – but what about the way the characters behave? What responsibility does an author have to their characters’ thought processes, beliefs and understanding of the fictional world around them?

The distinctive Australian landscape has been the inspiration for generations of science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. How has the Australian terrain defined Australian SF in the past, and in what ways does it define it today? A look at our country’s landscape through the lens of our writers and artists.

Official:
The Ditmar subcommittee are pleased to announce that voting for the Australian SF (“Ditmar”) Award for 2010 is now open, and will remain
open until one minute before midnight Perth time on Wednesday, 1st of September, 2010 (ie. 11.59pm, GMT+8).

* Tansy Rayner Roberts, for body of work
* Chuck McKenzie, for work in Horrorscope
* Robert Hood, for Undead Backbrain (roberthood.net/blog)* Tehani Wessely, for body of work* Bruce Gillespie, for work in Steam Engine Time

Best Fan Artist

* Dave Schembri, for work in Midnight Echo
* Kathleen Jennings, for body of work
* Dick Jenssen, for body of work